Where is the evidence for increased risk of HIV during Hajj?
• Wasim Hanif, Consultant Physician University Hospital Birmingham University Hospital Birmingham B29 6JD The authors in the article mention about the possiblity of increased risk of HIV and Hepatiits B during Hajj and the probable source they claim is sharing of blades during shaving of head. Interestingly the authors do not provide any referrence to that claim. I searched the Medline using the words Hajj and HIV and did not come across a single paper showing an increased risk of HIV during the Hajj season. During their visit to Mecca the authors would have noticed that most barbers tend to use disposable blades which they change before each shave. In this day of evidence based medicine it would have been better if the authors had referrenced such an important article well. Competing interests: None declared Submit rapid responsePublished 17 January 2005 Hajj Pilgrimage • Das.S.P Sabapathy, Retired Nil During the time I was a part-time family physician in sri lanka, during the Hajj se
